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Insurance Blogging: Promote a Good Cause

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As an insurance agent, it is important to ingratiate yourself as a member of the local community. One of the best ways to do that is by supporting charitable organizations that serve local families, pets, and/or schools. Whatever the cause, a little good will can go a long ways.

The savvy insurance agent already has a strong online representation. You run your own Twitter account, Facebook, and Google+; you may even have your own blog. And while that’s all good, if you spend all your time peddling products and services, you’re really missing out on making a stronger connection with your followers.

Several of our clients are involved with local foundations that directly serve their communities. We find that post engagement increases when we share photos from events they attend and when we link to the organizations’ websites or Facebook pages.

It really does help to humanize our clients when we can show them actively participating in community events. And if you’re one of those savvy insurance agents we mentioned above, you will use your platform to promote a good cause.

Most likely, you are already involved with one or more local charities, so why not help them, and help yourself. The next time you find yourself at one of their events, take pictures and share them online (with permission from organizers, of course); you can post links to sign up sheets or volunteer opportunities. It doesn’t matter so much how you do it, just so long as you do.

For example, we here at Actively Implementing Marketing Solutions are big fans of Rotary International. As a teenager, Cheri was able to spend a year abroad in Istanbul, Turkey thanks to their generosity and support. In turn, we promote their causes and are more likely to share their updates on our social media pages.

There are of course other causes and organizations that we support, and we are open to promoting them as well. No matter which groups you support, it will never hurt your reputation to share your involvement in their activities; in fact, it can only serve to help you. So get out there and start promoting your cause today!

Photo – © Stuart Miles – Fotolia.com

Book Review: Rework

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Here at AIMS we’re always looking for new ways to get ahead, so when we heard that Rework was a book we just HAD to read, we made our way down to our local public libraries and got on it (that’s right, the good ol’ library for these girls).

Written by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, Rework isn’t a get rich quick book, and it won’t offer you the same old advice you’ve heard time and again in the business world; in fact, the advice offered in Rework is almost entirely counterintuitive to traditional business models. And you know what? We dig it.

Rework advocates independent thought, autonomy and staying small. In a world that just wants you to grow, grow, grow; this book wants you to be happy with what you’ve got, at your current size. After all, the bigger you get, the more magnified your mistakes and the more scrutinized your flaws become.

The authors expound on their experience with the company they co-founded, 37signals (now BaseCamp), and riff on the importance of being really good at one or two things instead of mediocre at a bunch – which we 100% agree with. There will always be that temptation to do more, to provide more services, to make more money; what Rework does best is force you question whether or not that is really in the best interest of your business.

No doubt, every business wants to grow – we know we want to – but after reading Rework, we know that we have to grow on our terms. We can’t just say yes to everyone, and we can’t just give in when someone questions our practices or strategies. We have to stand by what we do and we have to produce a product that is worth paying for. Why half ass additional services when what we provide now is more than adequate for the clientele we market ourselves to?

If you’re a small business owner, you need to read Rework. Maybe you won’t agree with everything they say, but at the very least it will open your mind to new possibilities for growing (or not growing) your business. And hey, it might even give you ideas about having a life outside of work.

 

You can find Rework on Amazon or at your local library!

 

Image courtesy https://37signals.com/rework/

 

How To Choose A Blog Image

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There are a lot of ways to draw viewers to your blog: You can write a catchy headline or tweet something witty; you can write about current events or a hot button topic. One of our favorite methods however is to include an eye catching photo that is both relevant to the subject and visibly appealing.

Today’s society is heavily invested in aesthetics. If we see something we like, we’ll click on it, that’s why so many of those “Amazing Photos” and “Funny Athlete Pictures” Twitter handles and websites are so popular.

So how do you go about choosing an image for your blog? We’ve got some tips:

Actively Implementing Marketing Solutions 4 Tips for Choosing a Blog Image

Choose an image that matches your theme.

This is a blog that is all about images and how to choose them, so we chose an image that featured a series of scrolling images. Each of the images in the photo above is bright, cheery and clear. We’re hoping this blog is as well.

Is it eye catching?

When you are scrolling through images don’t just choose the first photo that matches your theme. Instead, spend some quality time searching for a picture that piques your interest, one that would make you stop and read the attached article.

If we’ve said it one, we’ll say it a thousand times over again: If you are writing (or in this case viewing) something that doesn’t interest you, it won’t interest your readers.

Choose an image that appeals to your clientele base.

We tend to represent clients in niche industries, and we market our blogs for the readers most likely to be interested in said industry. That isn’t to say we don’t welcome other viewers, but we know our clients and we cater to their needs, just as you should be catering to the needs of yours.

Use only royalty free images.

Check out this blog post for more information on that topic.

 

 

Photo – © stillkost – Fotolia.com

How To Create An Awesome Postcard

 

 

 

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How To Create An Awesome Postcard

Sending out a postcard is traditional paper marketing at its finest, and if you do it right, it can pay big dividends down the road. But do you know how to create an awesome postcard, one that is eye catching and, dare we say, interesting even?

Here at Actively Implementing Marketing Solutions, we specialize in helping our clients build the best postcards for their business, and we want to help you create awesome postcards too!

Four Tips for Creating Awesome Postcards

#1 – Get Colorful

Think about the postcards that come into your own home, which are the ones that you are most likely to pick up and read? Chances are, you’re going for the one that is bright, colorful and aesthetically pleasing.

When choosing a color palate, remember to choose colors that are complementary and reflect your theme. For example, if you are sending out a postcard offering Landscape Contractors a free business insurance quote, it would be smart to concentrate on earthy tones, like browns and greens.

We like Adobe Kuler for helping to determine which colors work best together.

#2 – Don’t Be Boring

Space is at a premium on postcards, and you don’t want to waste it with a whole lot of text that isn’t likely to be read. Instead, choose snippets that best express the message you are trying to send. We couldn’t tell you how many postcards we’ve read that has put us to sleep about halfway through. So be succinct, be interesting.

#3 – Be Clear

Be loud, be proud, and prominently display your call to action. If you want that Landscaper to visit a landing page, make the link big and make it bold. It should be the centerpiece to your postcard.

#4 – Brand It

This is it; this is the entryway directly into the homes of your prospective clients, and you don’t want to just be another piece of junk mail. You want to stand out and be remembered. The best way to do this is by branding. Your logo should be featured on both the front and the back of any postcard you send out. When an individual picks up a postcard from your company, they should know immediately who sent it and why.

 

Photo – © Aquir – Fotolia.com